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Costa Rica is among Earth’s finest hiking destinations, with thousands of miles of trails accessing its legendary volcanoes, idyllic beaches, rivers, waterfalls, rainforests, cloud forests and tropical dry forests. One look at a hiking map reveals Costa Rica’s striking scenic diversity, and no tour would be complete without lacing up your hiking shoes at least once.
What are the best hiking trails in Costa Rica?
Throughout its national parks and forest refuges, Costa Rica offers a bounty of trails, whether they’re accessing higher-elevation mountain terrain like the Monteverde Cloud Forest, the volcanic landscapes of Guanacaste or a remote tropical beach on the Osa Peninsula. The opportunities here are staggering, and it’s hard to pin down any one hike as the best.
“When people come to Costa Rica for a trekking adventure, they should aim for a volcano, and they should also aim for a wild place like Corcovado National Park,” says Margrit Ulrich, an expedition leader for National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions who was born and raised in Costa Rica. Whether you’re self-guided or on an inland excursion during an expedition cruise like those led by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, the 13 hiking trails which follow will not disappoint.
Heliconias Hanging Bridges in Heliconias Rainforest, Alajuela – 1.2 Miles
Located near the Tenorio Volcano in a private reserve, this short, casual loop hike also adds a bit of adventure, as you get up high above the forest floor—100-plus feet—on three suspended walkways that bring you eye-to-eye with the rainforest canopy and its denizens.
Heliconias Hanging Bridges begins at the Heliconias Rainforest Lodge and moves into the lush jungle, with the opportunity to see butterflies, monkeys, toucans and sloths, all while entertained by a raucous chorus of birdsong. Also look out for the hike’s namesake flower, the bright-red heliconia or “bird of paradise.”
Bring a rain jacket and footwear with a good grip, as it’s a wet area and the metal bridges can be slippery. One highlight of this hike is the huge tree on the second bridge, which is anchored to and goes around the tree itself—a true marvel of engineering!
Private tours are available with local guides who are knowledgeable about places in the forest where you could potentially see the tapir, a large, charismatic mammal. You can also experience this hike on the Caño Negro Rainforest Voyage Extension with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.
Skill Level: Easy to moderate
Best For: Families, casual hikers, birders, nature lovers
How to Get There: This hike leaves from the Heliconias Rainforest Lodge, about four hours north of San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: Multiple hotels, including the lodge itself.
Trail Profile: 1.2 miles, 324-foot elevation gain
La Leona Madrigal Trail in Parque Nacional Corcovado, Puntarenas – 8.3 Miles
While this remote out-and-back beach hike in Parque Nacional Corcovado requires reservations and a guide, it’s well worth the advanced planning. The views of the Pacific Ocean are stunning, with idyllic, seldom-crowded tropical beaches and the chance to spot sea turtles hatching in the rocks at low tide.
The La Leona Madigral Trail begins from sleepy Playa Carate on the pristine Osa Peninsula. The path travels along the blue-green waters of the Pacific and dreamy groves of palm trees, and at one point fords the Rio Madrigal.
The Osa Peninsula is famed for its abundance of wildlife, which includes sloths, anteaters, monkeys, snakes, pumas and jaguars, tapirs, poisonous dart frogs, and of course some spectacular Costa Rican birds. Off its coasts, you’ll also spot marine creatures like dolphins and whales.
And that’s why hiring a local guide will be a boon for potential animal sightings: According to Ulrich, Costa Rica has excellent guides, including any certified by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT). “If you hire somebody from the area, they’ll be familiar with it, as they walk those trails all the time and know the wildlife,” she says.
Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
Best For: Serious hikers, beach lovers, fans of forest and marine wildlife
How to Get There: Playa Carate is a seven-hour drive south from San José; an airstrip here services charter planes.
Where to Stay Nearby: Various lodging options at Playa Carate.
Trail Profile: 8.3 miles, 994-foot elevation gain
Chorreras Waterfall Trail in Liberia, Guanacaste – 1.6 Miles
The Chorreras Waterfall Trail in Liberia, a district in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province, delivers a scenic bounty: the twin waterfalls, which have sculpted a surreal bathing pool of milky-blue mineral water amidst the volcanic rock.
The out-and-back hike follows a well-signed path. Along the way, you’ll pass through a tropical dry forest typical of Guanacaste, with vibrant-green foliage in its understory and which during the rainy season of February to April can be as lush as the region’s cloud forests and rainforests.
According to Ulrich, while it’s common to associate Costa Rican forests with colorful flowers, they usually tend more toward monochrome, especially the higher-elevation cloud forests.
The best time to see forest color popping is January through March, when the deciduous trees are flowering. “They produce these beautiful pinks, fuchsias and yellows. So, you have these green forests with bouquets of pink and yellow and bright colors among them,” she notes. Guests aboard National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions' Guanacaste voyage can experience the vibrant display on this trail.
The Chorreras Waterfall Trail is on private land with a fee to swim, and the pool can be blown out with muddy water during the rainy season. Still, even if you get shut down here, the impressive, multi-cratered Volcán Rincón de la Vieja is close by.
Skill Level: Easy to moderate
Best For: Families, nature lovers, river swimmers, waterfall aficionados
How to Get There: The trailhead is four hours northwest of San José by car.
Where to Stay Nearby: Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin.
Trail Profile: 1.6 miles, 150-foot elevation gain
Quesera Beach in the Curú Wildlife Reserve, Puntarenas – 8.4 Miles
This quiet gem of a hike on the southeastern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula offers one of the finest end-point destinations on this list: an isolated, postcard-perfect, white-sand, turquoise-saltwater beach framed by bluffs. Plus, there’s the chance to see tons of wildlife en route and while playing in the waves.
Quesera Beach sits in the private Curú Wildlife Reserve in the province of Puntarenas, on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica. Just offshore, across the strait where dolphins are known to swim, are Isla Alcatraz and Isla Tortuga, famous snorkeling and scuba destinations, with the latter renowned for its sandy beaches.
The hike down to the beach passes through swaths of open forest (bring strong sunblock), with the chance to see crocodiles and caimans, tapirs, monkeys, deer, storks and other seabirds, green iguanas and other wildlife. You’ll also pass mangrove trees, with their characteristic aerial root balls. If you snorkel down at the beach, you’ll also have the chance to encounter sea turtles and colorful fish.
Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
Best For: Serious hikers, lovers of marine life, snorkelers
How to Get There: The reserve is a four-hour drive west of San José; it can also be accessed by boat.
Where to Stay Nearby: The town of San Josecito has multiple lodging options.
Trail Profile: 8.4 miles, 1,253-foot elevation gain
Prieta Beach - Virador Beach in Liberia, Guanacaste – 1.1 Miles
Though short, the Prieta Beach - Virador Beach out-and-back hike showcases the country’s Pacific Coast at its most spectacular, with a mix of white, sandy beaches, unobstructed ocean views and dramatic cliffs plunging seaward.
Situated on the serene Papagayo Peninsula in Guanacaste, this hike begins at quiet Playa Prieta and heads south along the coast to Playa Virador, which you may just get entirely to yourself. The trail is well marked throughout, with boardwalks and stairs to help you along the trickier sections.
You can visit the Pacific Coast year-round, but Ulrich says that the rainiest time on this side of the country is September and October—so if swimming on a warm day is your thing, avoid these months. “High season in Costa Rica is November to April,” she says. “The weather is the most stable, with sunny mornings, sunny days, and maybe scattered rain in the afternoons.” Read more about the best time to visit Costa Rica before you plan your hike.
Skill Level: Moderate to intermediate
Best For: Families, casual hikers, beachgoers
How to Get There: The trailhead is a 4.5-hour drive northwest from San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: Numerous options in Playa Nacascolo and around Bahía Culebra.
Trail Profile: 1.1 miles, 324-foot elevation gain
Rio Celeste Waterfall in Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio, Alajuela – 1.8 Miles
Given the iconic status of the turquoise-hued, 100-foot-tall Rio Celeste Waterfall, it’s no surprise that this trail in Alajuela Province’s Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio is perpetually busy. As long as you’re okay sharing your hike with other awestruck sightseers, this 1.8-mile out-and-back is well worth the effort.
Situated in the volcanic Cordillera de Guanacaste range at around 2,400 feet, the Rio Celeste Waterfall (and river) takes its trademark color from a fascinating chemical process: Particles comprised of aluminum, oxygen, and silicon called aluminosilicates float down the Rió Buenavista, which joins the creek of Quebrada Agria to form the Rio Celeste shortly above the falls.
Since the Quebrada Agria is acidic and the Rió Buenavista is neutral, this blending of the two rivers causes the aluminosilicates to swell from clumps 184 nanometers in diameter to 566, thus better reflecting light in the blue spectrum to create the Rio Celeste’s sky-blue color. Guests on the Caño Negro Rainforest Voyage Extension with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions have a chance to discover this natural phenomenon up close.
As with all forest trails in Costa Rica, this one can be muddy, and the approximately 250 steep stairs down to the falls and pool can be slippery—wear appropriate, close-toed footwear.
Skill Level: Easy to moderate
Best For: Families, casual hikers, sightseers, waterfall lovers
How to Get There: A three-plus-hour drive from San José gets you to Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio.
Where to Stay Nearby: Multiple options around the park.
Trail Profile: 1.8 miles, 400-foot elevation gain
Golfo Dulce and Tigre River in the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, Puntarenas – 3 Miles
This low-key loop on the unspoiled Osa Peninsula on the southern Pacific Coast takes in the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve’s vibrant rainforest, as well as picturesque views of the golfo (gulf) itself. Sitting on the eastern edge of the unspoiled, 105,000-acre Parque Nacional Corcovado, the reserve overlooks the gulf’s placid green and deep-blue waters, where dolphins, whales and seabirds cavort.
The hike begins at the Bolita Rainforest Hostel and winds into the forest on a well-signed path that eventually crosses the Rio Tigre near its headwaters. Keep an eye out for the quetzal, with its shimmering emerald-green and crimson plumage; these avians have long been important to Indigenous cultures in Central America, with their feathers used in religious ceremonies and luxury headdresses.
Still, don’t get hung up on having to see this one bird, even in an area this rich in wildlife (Corcovado has a staggering 2.5 percent of the world’s biodiversity!). As Ulrich puts it, it’s easy to fall prey to “Neo-Tropical Expectations Disease”: showing up thinking that you’re going to see everything.
Sure, you might get lucky and see it all, but you might not. Hiking farther is no guarantee of seeing the desired wildlife, and sometimes you’ll have the most epic sighting at a picnic table in the parking lot.
Skill Level: Moderate to intermediate
Best For: Families, birders, exploration-minded hikers
How to Get There: The reserve is a 6.5-hour drive south of the capital of San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: The Bolita Rainforest Hostel at the trailhead, plus the town of Doz Brazos, options include guesthouse, B&B, hostels, etc.
Trail Profile: 3 miles, 843-foot elevation gain
Bahía El Hachal, Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Guanacaste – 7.2 Miles
The hike to Bahía El Hachal on the Santa Elena Peninsula in Guanacaste is a must-do for aficionados of secluded, crowd-free beaches with long hikes as their price of admission. Descending down to the sea along the northeastern edge of Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, the trail ends at a perfect strand, with crystalline waters and pebbles and warm golden sand underfoot.
What could be better—other, maybe, than not having to climb back to the trailhead after a long day of lazy beachgoing?
En route, as you wrap beneath the eastern ramparts of Cerros Murciélago (997 feet), you may see forest critters like howler monkeys and deer. Santa Rosa’s park designation—in 1971, making it one of Costa Rica’s earliest national parks—and rocky, mountainous terrain have kept this area free from development, so animals abound.
Also of note are the nearby Islas Murciélagos (or Bat Islands), part of the park’s marine sector and a scuba-diving destination famed for its coral reefs, manta rays and bull sharks.
Skill Level: Moderate to intermediate
Best For: Serious hikers, solitude seekers, beachgoers
How to Get There: This hike is a ~4.5-hour drive northwest of San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: The closest lodging is in the Cuajiniquil area.
Trail Profile: 7.2 miles, 511-foot elevation gain
Las Pailas Loop, Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, Guancaste – 2.3 Miles
The higher, drier tropical forests of Guanacaste are at their finest on the Las Palais Loop, a trip through the volcanically active Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja that takes in expansive views of the Cordillera de Guanacaste as well as fumaroles, mud pots and water pots.
This popular loop hike begins at park HQ and, while it is family friendly and not super strenuous, it does include some steps. Also, be aware that the volcanic features are active and dangerous—keep out and obey all signage!
The trail is one of Costa Rica’s most diverse, with forest terrain and the chance to appreciate animals like lizards, birds, and monkeys, but also has open, desert areas and Yellowstone-like vulcanism. Ulrich says Las Pailas, which National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions guests do aboard the Guanacaste voyage, is one of her favorite hikes, “because it goes from dry forest to rainforest to open savannah, and from waterfalls to mud pods, showing you volcanism in action.”
In addition to the steaming/offgassing fumarolic lagoon, sulfur-belching fumaroles, and the roiling mud pots, one highlight is the Volcancito, or Little Volcano, with its bubbling crater featuring steam vents and hot springs—a small-scale version of what’s going on in Guanacaste’s massive volcanoes.
Skill Level: Easy to moderate
Best For: Families, sightseers, the geologically curious
How to Get There: Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja is a four-hour drive north of San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: Numerous options around the area, including in the city of Liberia.
Trail Profile: 2.3 miles, 364-foot elevation gain
Cuajiniquil Beach in La Cruz, Guanacaste – 9.9 Miles
This near-loop takes its time getting to Playa Cuajaniqul (Cuajaniquil Beach) in the Golfo de Santa Elena area of Guanacaste, but it makes for a great day out for those who aren’t in a hurry to reach the sea.
The excursion begins in the small cattle-ranching town of Cuajiniquil and loops around south, in a clockwise direction, on dirt roads before heading back up north along the coastline to the beach. Those dirt roads also attract mountain bikers so keep in mind you may have to share the trail with them. En route, you’ll get a magnificent tour of the Guanacaste countryside, passing through open farmlands and then tropical dry forest, where you might hear howler monkeys giving their trademark throaty hoot/growl from the trees.
The beach itself is divine, with clear waters and tawny sand, with the winding Rio Cuajaniquil emptying into the sea on the far northern end—it’s a great, secluded place to linger, play in the waves and work on your tan.
Skill Level: Moderate to intermediate
Best For: Serious hikers, mountain bikers, beachgoers, adventurous souls
How to Get There: The trailhead is a four-plus hour drive northwest from San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: The Cuajiniquil area has multiple lodging options.
Trail Profile: 9.9 miles, 462-foot elevation gain
Bosque Nuboso – La Ventana – Quebrada Cuecha Trails, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Puntarenas – 3.6 Miles
This linkup of the Bosque Nuboso – La Ventana – Quebrada Cuecha Trails in the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nubioso Monteverde (Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve) loops through the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s forests. As you walk, you’ll often be deep among the trees, though the La Ventana overlook does provide a stunning vista.
Sitting at a mile high, the Monteverde Cloud Forest occupies a unique geographical and biological niche: moist trade winds blowing from the Caribbean Sea slope up the Central and Guanacaste mountain ranges, cooling as they rise to become the clouds and mist that near-constantly enshroud the forests.
These colder, high-humidity environments then become a sanctuary for mammals, birds, reptiles and vegetation (including hundreds of orchid species that thrive here), with the dripping canopy teeming with wildlife.
One thing to note is the forest’s surprisingly monochromatic hues: gray mists and green trees. “Cloud forests are not very colorful, so people are always surprised by that,” says Ulrich.
“But plants are not meant for human amusement; they are meant to attract a bird, a pollinator. And in cloud forests and tropical rainforests, the main pollinators are bats, which fly at night and navigate by smell, so colors are useless. As well as bees, which see ultraviolet colors.”
Skill Level: Easy to moderate
Best For: Wildlife lovers, birders, families, the botanically curious
How to Get There: Monteverde is a three-plus hour drive northwest of San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: The town of Santa Elena has stacks of lodging options.
Trail Profile: 3.6 miles, 810-foot elevation gain
Complete Tour of Manuel Antonio, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas – 5 Miles
Complete Tour of Manuel Antonio Trail is essentially a loop hike through the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, with some spur trails to explore, all taking place on a spit of land on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coastline. It is a very popular park (and hike), so start early to avoid heat and crowds.
The hike offers amazing scenic diversity, from the long, sandy beach of Playa Espadilla Sur, to clifftop overlooks across the Pacific on Punta Catedral, to the secluded cove of Playa Gemelas. The aquaramine waters invite a swim, of course, but there are treasures inland as well.
“As I’ve often told guests aboard voyages with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions,” says Ulrich, “Manuel Antonio is the meeting point between the tropical dry forest of Northwest Costa Rica and the lush tropical rainforest of the south, with elements from each ecosystem wonderfully intermingled.”
In the rainforest, wildlife to look out for include the white-nosed coati, raccoons, the large rodent known as the agouti, sloths, iguanas and monkeys. Also look for ceiba trees, recognized by their massive, complex, often-sinuous buttress supporting a towering trunk with the branches sprouting up top.
Skill Level: Moderate to intermediate
Best For: Families, birders, wildlife appreciators, tour groups
How to Get There: The park is a three-plus hour drive south of San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: The towns of Manuel Antonio Fincas, El Cerro, and Quepos.
Trail Profile: 5 miles, 790-foot elevation gain
Arenal Volcano Hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal, Alajuela – 3.2 Miles
The popular Arenal Volcano Hike in Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal is a staple of the stunning Alajuela Province, deep in the country’s rainforest interior. Taking a “lollipop” shape out to the Mirador Volcán overlook which directly faces the peak’s steep western slopes, this casual hike has only 433 feet of gain, mostly in the stair climb to the overlook.
Sadly, you can’t hike up the iconic Arenal Volcano (5,437 feet) itself: The conical stratovolcano, though dormant since its last eruption in 2010, still has perilous gas emissions and fumaroles. Nevertheless, this family-friendly hike gives you up-close views of its spectacular, symmetrical peak and of Costa Rica’s biggest lake, the 19-mile-long gem of Lake Arenal, just to the west.
Other highlights include a raised walkway above the rainforest and lake views over the canopy. Keep your eyes peeled for vibrant flowers and massive ceiba trees, as well as parrots, toucans, coati, sloths, snakes, monkeys and other charismatic jungle creatures.
Skill Level: Easy to moderate
Best For: Families, hikers, bird- and wildlife-watchers, fans of vulcanology and geology
How to Get There: The trail is a three-plus-hour drive northwest from San José.
Where to Stay Nearby: You’ll find mulitple hotels and resorts around the volcano.
Trail Profile: 3.2 miles, 433-foot elevation gain
Hiking in Costa Rica FAQs
As you’re planning your ideal hike in the awe-inspiring wilds of Costa Rica, here are answers to a few more questions you might be wondering about.
Do I need a guide while hiking in Costa Rica?
While many hikes are short, easily accessible, and well-traveled enough to do self-guided, others are remote and/or in treacherous rainforest terrain and are best done guided. Meanwhile, certain areas, like Corcovado National Park, require a guide. Be sure to do your research and arm yourself with the right information.
Which hikes are near San José?
San José is surrounded by peaks, hills and lush tropical forests, making for great hiking, with standouts being the Agres River Waterfall and the ridgeline hike of Three Crosses – Escazu Trail.
Can I hike to the crater of Arenal Volcano?
No—because Arenal Volcano remains active, with gas emissions and fumaroles, the park prohibits hiking to its summit or into the crater.
